Message of Victory from Rouhani: Iran Chooses a Path Away from Violence

Hours after the official announcement of Hassan Rouhani's victory in the elections, he described his election as a "victory of peace and reconciliation over tension and violence" and stated that "today the world knows that Iran has chosen a path away from violence." On Saturday, May 19, shortly after the official results of the 12th presidential election were announced, Rouhani emphasized that participants in the elections on May 19 said "no to those who wanted to take the country back to the past." Hassan Rouhani was officially declared the winner of the majority of popular votes in the 12th presidential election, surpassing his main rival, Ebrahim Raisi, from the principlist front, to serve another four-year term at the head of the government. He referred to his victory in the presidential election as a "victory of peace and reconciliation over tension and violence" and a "victory of unity and national cohesion over division and fragmentation." In another part of his speech, he stated that "today the world knows that Iran has chosen a path away from violence." During his presidential campaign, Rouhani had emphasized that the nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA "has removed the shadow of war from Iran." In response to this statement, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic indicated in a speech that he does not agree with the President. On Sunday, May 1, he dismissed the discussion of the "shadow of war" being lifted from Iran by "some officials" and stated: "What has lifted the shadow of war, the shadow of the enemy from the country over these many years, has been the presence of the people." In his congratulatory message on the occasion of the presidential election, Ayatollah Khamenei also announced that "national dignity and adherence to wisdom in global communications and attention to international power are among the priorities of revolutionary and Islamic management." Rouhani also accused his main rival, Ebrahim Raisi, and his supporters of opposing the nuclear agreement and "stabbing the Iranian negotiating team in the back." On Saturday, Rouhani further stated: "Our nation wants to live in peace and friendship in the world, but is not willing to endure humiliation and threats." He added: "This message must be heard correctly by countries, especially neighbors. The elections in Iran showed that the way to ensure security, strengthen democracy, and respect the votes of the people is not to rely on foreign powers." This statement by Rouhani could be a reference to Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump's visit to the country as his first foreign trip, which coincided with Rouhani's victory announcement. Relations between Iran and regional countries, including Saudi Arabia, have soured following the intensification of conflicts in Syria and Yemen. Rouhani also stated that the participation of more than 41 million people in the presidential election "brought the history of the country out of stagnation and doubt and placed Iran on the path of continued development and progress." He called the 2017 presidential election the "most competitive" election in Iran and addressed his supporters, saying: "You said no to all those who called for our return to the past or a halt in the current situation and pushed time forward." Rouhani also considered his victory as a sign that the people of Iran are a "unified nation" that "despite political polarization, no one can" drag them "into the abyss of pointless class, sectarian, tribal, urban, and rural disputes." He had also stated during the presidential campaign that the people of Iran are a "100 percent nation." These statements were a reaction to the remarks of Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, another presidential candidate, who during his campaign proposed dividing the people of Iran into two categories: the four percent and the ninety-six percent. He repeatedly emphasized that the "four percent minority" illegally holds most banking resources and economic privileges. In part of his victory message on Saturday, Rouhani also mentioned groups such as artists, workers, employees, and students, saying: "Greetings to the honorable teachers who shone in the black storm of slander." Rouhani's reference could relate to the UNESCO 2030 document, which some of Raisi's supporters and Friday prayer leaders have called "treason," while Es'haq Jahangiri, the first vice president of Iran, stated in response that "lies" about this document were published to "hurt religious sentiments and undermine" the eleventh government. Rouhani also named Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former head of the Expediency Council of Iran, and thanked Mohammad Khatami, Hassan Khomeini, Ali Akbar Nategh Nouri, and Es'haq Jahangiri. Mentioning Mohammad Khatami, the former president of Iran, has recently become a taboo among official authorities and state media; therefore, bringing his name in Rouhani's victory message can be described as a significant act. During the presidential campaign, the President announced that he had written a letter to the judiciary regarding Khatami's media ban, but the judiciary did not respond to his letter.